‘LaBoheme’ soon to be at the Times Union Center

Teatro Lirico D'Europa brings its highly acclaimed, full-scale, traditional, Italian production of Puccini's timeless “LA BOHÈME” to Jacksonville for one night only with an international cast of soloists, full orchestra and chorus. English super titles are projected above the stage.

The opera La Bohème centers around the tragic love story of Mimí and Rodolfo. The story is set in 1830 Paris and shows the lifestyle of four struggling bohemians – a poet, a painter, a musician and a philosopher. Shivering in a garret and owing rent, their lives change forever the night Colline the Philosopher and Schaunard the Musician earn enough money for all of the friends to buy a meal at a nearby restaurant. Rodolfo the Poet stays behind to finish his writing but is interrupted by Lucia, known as Mimi, a seamstress from the next apartment over. They are instantly attracted to each other, and decide to catch up with the others."

Teatro Lirico D'Europa had a stunning success with a production of Puccini's LA BOHEME that would have satisfied the most ardent opera fan. Here was a production in a classic style with solid acting and depth of sound, both of which stirred the musical soul of an audience so intensely satisfied. Artistic director Giorgio Lalov has the gift of "assemblage d'art". - The Chicago Star - D. K. Luksetich

“La Bohème – The Opera”
DATE: Friday March 26, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.

TICKETS: Start at $33.75can be purchased online 24/7 HERE

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202

Electric Light Orchestra comes to JAX this month

Electric Light Orchestra Experience 50th Anniversary tour features the brilliant arrangements and flawless musicianship and vocals of the 12 elite professional musicians, whose credits include an exhaustive list of the biggest names in the music industry, are the hallmarks of this new, first-class 50th Anniversary tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra.

Electric Light Orchestra's fusion of Beatlesque-pop with classical arrangements rocketed the group to massive commercial success, generating numerous instantly-recognizable chart-topping hits and album sales in excess of 50,000,000.

For information about the Safety Protocols at the Times-Union Center, please click this link.

“Electric Light Orchestra Experience”
DATE: Thurs. Mach 18, 2021
TIME: 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS: Start at $32.50 &can be purchased online 24/7 HERE

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202

WJCT News 89.9 achieves a new record

WJCT Public Media announced today that its flagship FM station, WJCT News 89.9, achieved a record share of the radio listening audience in the Jacksonville DMA, as measured by Neilsen between January 7 and February 3, 2021.

WJCT News 89.9 is now the top station in the market for adults ages 25-54 in both mornings and afternoons. The station’s overall share advanced to 6.2%, a station record that moves it into a tie for fourth place in the market overall.  Steady performance improvements were recorded in every day part, with mornings performing especially well (8% audience share) — representing third place in the Jacksonville market for the January ratings block.

WJCT News 89.9 has introduced new programming to its mid-day and evening lineup, and additional local newscasts throughout the day every Monday through Friday. WJCT Public Media debuted the station’s new name, WJCT News 89.9, last summer; the station was formerly known as WJCT-FM.

The record-setting audience share numbers are accompanied by multi-year highs in total audience, as broadcast radio listening continues its recovery toward pre-pandemic levels. WJCT News 89.9 has also seen an acceleration of its growth in streaming audience through smart speakers, the WJCT app, and on the web this period, with January’s streaming audience growing by more than 30% year-over-year.

“We are delighted to welcome so many new listeners to WJCT News 89.9 over these last several months,” said David McGowan, CEO of WJCT Public Media. “It’s gratifying to see great programming attracting a larger, more diverse audience, and we’re building on that growth every day.”

For a full list of WJCT News 89.9 programming, visit news.wjct.org/schedule.

About WJCT Public Media: WJCT Public Media is the community-owned and operated public media organization serving Jacksonville and the First Coast since 1958, using television, radio, digital media, and live events to help community members learn, share, and grow. For more information on WJCT’s in-depth programming content, log on to WJCT Online at wjct.org. Like WJCT on Facebook (facebook.com/wjctjax) and follow WJCT on Twitter (@WJCTJax) and Instagram (@WJCTJax).

The Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens is open

The weather is getting nice and it’s time to enjoy some culture in a safe atmosphere right here in Jacksonville, Florida. Contact the Cummer for your admission tickets. It’s an investment well spent.

Events & Programs for March 2021:

Virtual Job Fair: The Cummer Museum provides career opportunities to enrich and develop your love of the arts, while contributing to our mission of engaging and inspiring our community. Meet them on March 18th, 2021 between 4 and 6 p.m. Click HERE for more information.

Behind the Leaves: Garden Tour – Saturday, March 20 @10 a.m. Enjoy an enlightening stroll in the gardens with a Museum Docent. Members $10, Non-Members $15 | Registration required. Sponsored by Joan and Jim Van Vleck.

LiterARTure: Comfortably Mysterious – Tuesday, March 23 @7 p.m. LiterARTure is both a virtual book and art club. Cindy Edelman, art lecturer, and Stacey Goldring, author, offer prescriptive solace and refuge within the pages of books and painted artworks. Free | Registration required.

Checkmate at the Cummer: A Chess Tournament – Saturday, March 27 @12 p.m.
The Museum has partnered with Chess for Charity in hosting a rated chess tournament in the Cummer Gardens. Check online for details. Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics – Friday nights in March from5 to 9 p.m. Prices vary | Registration required.

Education:
Slow Art Wednesday – Take a fun and mindful break on Wednesday, March 10 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour - Friday, March 19 @6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity - Sunday, March 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Slow Art Wednesday: Take a fun and mindful break - Wednesday, March 24 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators - Tuesday, March 30 @5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Virtual School Tours: Check online for details. Sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

Get Ready for Spring:
Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness.
April 15 through June 6, 2021

"It's what comes from within that is beautiful."
Zanele Muholi – An internationally touring exhibition organized by Autograph, London and curated by Renée Mussai. The Cummer Museum is the final venue for this internationally touring exhibition featuring art by one of the most acclaimed and celebrated photographers working today. In more than 80 self-portraits, celebrated South African visual activist Zanele Muholi uses their body as a canvas to confront the deeply personal politics of race and representation in the visual archive. Each black and white self-portrait asks critical questions about social (in)justice, human rights, and contested representations of the Black body. Exhibition-related programming will be announced soon. © Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town/Johannesburg and Yancey Richardson, New York.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. The Cummer was established in 1958, when art collector, garden enthusiast, and civic leader Ninah Cummer bequeathed her art collection and riverfront home to create a museum. Today, the core collection of 60 pieces from Mrs. Cummer's estate has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art. The historic gardens, set against the backdrop of the St. Johns River, serve as a centerpiece of beauty for all to enjoy.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Bee Gees bring stellar performance during pandemic

Everyone in the building wore masks, seats were socially distanced, temperatures were taken, and handbags checked; this started an evening of celebrating the music of the Bee Gees despite the awareness of COVID-19.

Attendees had a great time hearing this amazing “Staying Alive – One Night of the Bee Gees” tribute band and bopping to the familiar hits of the original disco era of the late 1970s group. Some couples even felt free to socially distance themselves from others as they took to the floor for a little dancing.

Despite a small mishap at the Times Union Center fort the Performing Arts, the show continued to go on. The show was fabulous and well worth the cost and a night out on the town.

Upcoming Shows: March 18, 2021 “Electric Light Orchestra Experience 25th Anniversary”
        March 26, 2021 “LaBohème –                                   The Opera”
        April 29, 2021 “Riverdance 25th Anniversary”

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 632-5000 or
      888-860-BWAY (2929)

Cathedral Arts Project flourishes in JAX public schools

The Cathedral Arts Project (CAP), as part of the Any Given Child Jacksonville program (AGC Jacksonville), has announced the launch of the Landscape of Education in the Arts in Duval (LEAD) artlook® map. This launch is part of a collective national effort to affect systemic change for arts education through partnerships with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Ingenuity, the Chicago-based arts advocacy organization that created the artlook® platform.

The LEAD artlook® map provides a real-time snapshot of arts resources and services on a school-by-school basis in Duval County, using data from schools, funding resources and cultural service providers, such as local museums and arts organizations. This cutting-edge tool allows community stakeholders to identify funding and partnership opportunities that will lead to greater support and resources for arts education in Duval County schools.

Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the U.S. Department of Education and the PNC Foundation, AGC Jacksonville is working to assess the state of the arts and advocate for increased equity and access to high quality arts education for all students enrolled in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) — goals that took on even more significance as a result of the pandemic.

AGC Jacksonville initiated a collaboration between Ingenuity, the Kennedy Center and the NEA to launch the artlook® Project, a three-year initiative to gather comprehensive data to improve equitable access to arts education. Jacksonville is one of eight cities nationally, and the only city in Florida, to participate in the artlook® Project. Other communities selected for the initiative include Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; and Southwestern PA.

LEAD began in 2019 with surveys to all Duval County Public Schools to collect information about arts programming and resources. A separate survey was created for local arts and culture organizations to gather information about their arts education offerings. The map will be updated annually; data from the 2020-2021 school year will be active on the map by fall 2021.

LEAD is the first artlook® map to launch outside of Ingenuity’s original Chicago map and provides a template for other school districts seeking to use data to strengthen teaching, learning, whole-child education and strategies to address equity gaps. Locally, Assessment Technologies Group and the University of North Florida are providing data analysis support to translate the map into an advocacy plan.

In recent years, DCPS has expanded its arts education opportunities for students. Recent advancements include the creation of a new arts magnet middle school, Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts; new digital arts, digital photography and cinematic film programs in multiple secondary schools; expanded performing arts programs, including show choir, theatre, band and choral programs; the addition of more than 80 fine arts teaching positions since 2013; and active representation for arts education in all pandemic planning efforts to keep programs and positions intact and available as safely as possible.

The LEAD artlook® map can be viewed at jacksonville.artlookmap.com.

 

Tennessee Williams’ play comes to the Alhambra

Since taking over the helm of the storied Alhambra Theatre & Dining, Managing Partner Craig Smith has wanted to produce a Tennessee Williams play, and on February 24, 2021 he will get his wish as the Alhambra opens his most famous one, “The Glass Menagerie”. The Alhambra has built its reputation on exceptionally casted and produced musicals and musical comedies, and has rarely mounted what theater fans call a “straight drama.” Audiences can expect the same astounding talent and set quality it is used to (and food), but with a slightly different theatrical experience overall.

Referred to typically as a “memory play, The Glass Menagerie premiered in 1944 and is credited for catapulting Williams from obscurity. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister Laura.

In the script for The Glass Menagerie, Williams sets the show’s tone through the main character, Tom Wingfield, “The play is memory. Being a memory play, it is dimly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic. In memory everything seems to happen to music. That explains the fiddle in the wings. I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it. The other characters are my mother Amanda, my sister Laura and a gentleman caller who appears in the final scenes.  The scene is memory and is therefore non-realistic. Memory takes a lot of poetic license. It omits some details; others are exaggerated, according to the emotional value of the articles it touches, for memory is seated predominantly in the heart.”

The Alhambra will continue its 2021 season with limited seating due to its policy of strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols. “Our role in this community is to provide entertainment and a respite for our family of guests,” said Smith. He continued, “We will always put their experience first, and this is what they told us they wanted.” With Season Partners having renewed at an even faster pace than for 2020 and hosting a sold-out season opener with Singin’ in the Rain, Smith feels reassured in the decisions he and his team made. “We’re delighted to make the seating work, and even more delighted that our guests are responding with such love and support.”

“The Glass Menagerie”

DATES: February 24 — March 21, 2021

SHOW TIMES: discussed with ticket sales

DRESS: “Business Casual”, or “Sunday Best”.

TICKETS: Prices start at just $48 per person.  Ticket prices include: a plated three-course meal that changes for each show, and is served directly to your table; a Broadway-style performance and complimentary parking.  Tickets may be purchases on line, or by calling (904) 641-1212.
     **Prices do NOT include gratuity, professional photos, nor orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

WJCT public media to rebrand WJCT-TV as Jax PBS

WJCT Public Media announced today that WJCT-TV will be rebranded as Jax PBS, effective February 24, 2021.

As WJCT continues to move toward production and distribution of its services across a wide range of digital technologies, its brands are also evolving to reflect this new media landscape. The programs that currently air on WJCT-TV are now available on platforms beyond the broadcast television channel, and it’s new name reflects this new multi-platform environment.

The Jax PBS brand aligns with growing demand for content across multiple platforms and expanded services available through WJCT Public Media, including live streaming content at wjct.org, the WJCT app, on-demand streaming through Jax PBS Passport, and distribution through both traditional TV providers such as Comcast and AT&T and new “virtual” multi-video program distributors (vMVPDs) such as YouTube TV.  Jax PBS will continue to be available as a broadcast channel found in channel position 7.1.

“WJCT-TV has been your trusted source for the very best in education, entertainment and news programming for more than 60 years. But as the way we all watch evolves so will our name. WJCT-TV will become JAX PBS beginning February 24, 2021. New name, same mission: educate, involve, inspire,” explained David McGowan, President and CEO of WJCT Public Media.

The identity will be implemented through a refreshed logo and new identity graphics. Other channels broadcast and distributed by WJCT Public Media will also reflect the new brand, including Jax PBS More!, Jax PBS Kids, Jax PBS WORLD and Jax PBS Create.

This rebranding is the first change to the station’s public name in its history. WJCT debuted in September 1958 as an educational television broadcaster, and became a member station of The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1969.

The PBS brand is synonymous with trust and value. For the 18th consecutive year, PBS has been named America’s most-trusted institution ahead of commercial cable and broadcast television, newspapers, and digital platforms. Americans view PBS as a destination for journalistic integrity, exceptional content, and incredible storytelling appealing to a diverse range of people in the community. Families turn to PBS Kids as a trusted and safe source over other children’s media providers for high-quality, educational programming and resources that inspire and prepare children for success in school. The trust that Americans place in the PBS brand, along with its widespread recognition, led WJCT Public Media's to work with PBS to develop the local Jax PBS brand as WJCT updated the identity of its television services.

“In the more than 60 years since WJCT-TV went on the air, many things have changed — including the ways and places we all watch 'TV'” said McGowan. “Rebranding this service as Jax PBS reflects those changes, while also making us easier to find and identify in a crowded media landscape.  WJCT is much more than a traditional over-the-air broadcast channel, and we are proud to adopt Jax PBS as a name that better reflects our multi-platform future.”

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated call letters for Jax PBS (WJCT) will remain the same. The programming lineup will not change as part of the rebranding initiative. For more information, visit jaxpbs.org.

About WJCT: WJCT is the community-owned and operated public media organization serving Jacksonville and the First Coast since 1958, using television, radio, digital media, and live events to help community members learn, share, and grow. For more information on WJCT’s in-depth programming content, log on to WJCT Online at wjct.org. Like WJCT on Facebook (facebook.com/wjctjax) and follow WJCT on Twitter (@WJCTJax) and Instagram (@WJCTJax).

New Board of Trustees for the Cummer Museum

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Board of Trustees announces the appointment of four new members: Atiya Abdelmalik, Yared Alula, Howard Dodson, Jr. and Nathanial P. Ford, Sr. The new trustees will each serve a three-year term that began on January 1, 2021.

Atiya Abdelmalik, Ph.D. (Dr. A.) has served in diverse roles in the fields of health care and community engagement. A sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. A. is the author of A Life Worth Saving: A Nurse's Journey from Sickness to Healing. She has led teams in health promotion, community programs and employee volunteerism. Dr. A. has led high level community initiatives and served on committees and the board of directors for the American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, Ward Home, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, YWCA and United Way. She holds a nursing degree from Eastern University, a graduate degree in nursing administration from Waynesburg University and a Ph.D. in community engagement from Point Park University.

Yared Alula currently serves as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the PGA TOUR, where he provides legal and strategic counsel across a wide variety of the PGA TOUR’s business units, and as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for USA GOLF. Alula’s past experience included senior roles at the NBA Players Association, where he served as a key member of the NBPA negotiating committee that resolved the 2011 NBA lockout, and as an M&A attorney at Latham & Watkins. A proud native of Atlanta, Ga., Alula has also lived in Boston, New York and London. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Emory University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Howard Dodson, Jr. recently served as the Director of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center and Howard University Libraries, and was formerly the long-time director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, a post he occupied for over a quarter of a century (1984-2010). Dodson is credited with extending the reach and reputation of the Schomburg Center through major exhibitions and acquisitions. Dodson has been active throughout his life in a number of projects, including service in the Peace Corps and later as a national Peace Corps staff member. He has produced a number of exhibitions and festivals celebrating Black history and African American life. Dodson is also the author of several books and articles, and the recipient of numerous awards, including being named to the President's Commission on the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Malcolm X Museum Award. He serves on the boards of directors of the Apollo Theater Foundation and the UNESCO Slave Route Project, among many others.

Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. is Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and past Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). His distinguished career spans more than four decades, including tenures as CEO of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Ford is the Chair of the Goodwill Industries of Northeast Florida Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Transportation Research Board. He was named “Ultimate CEO” by the Jacksonville Business Journal, inducted into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame, honored with the 2019 “Thought Leader” Award by The Eno Center for Transportation and selected as APTA’s 2020 Outstanding Public Transportation General Manager of the Year. Ford holds an Executive MBA from the Davis School of Business at Jacksonville University and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in organizational leadership from Mercer University. He is a graduate of the Executive Development Consortium Program at Emory University, and has completed executive training at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida (2015) and Leadership Jacksonville (2014).

‘The Marquee Project’ presented to JAX from the Florida Theatre

The nonprofit Florida Theatre is pleased to announce The Marquee Project, an effort to use the signboards of the historic Florida Theatre’s marquee to bring attention to Jacksonville’s historical figures, the diverse people who made a lasting contribution to the rich history of our city, state and nation.

The marquee of the historic Florida Theatre is seen by over 5,000 people a day. Each week, a slide featuring a different historical person will be put in rotation with the slides that advertise upcoming events at the venue. Under the heading, “We Celebrate Jacksonville,” that person’s name, photo, birth and death years, and a brief description of their contributions to society will be featured.

The goals of the project are: to bring attention to historical persons who had a significant connection to Jacksonville as a native or a resident; to honor persons who lived in the past, although persons currently living who meet the other criteria will not necessarily be excluded; to emphasize the diversity of our community; to bring attention to lesser known persons who may not have achieved “marquee name” status in their lifetimes; and to honor persons whose values and actions resulted in achievements that had a significant impact on other people’s lives, as well as the life of our city, state and nation.

Steve Smith and PC Bryant are Members of the Florida Theatre’s Board of Directors, and Co-Chairs of the Board's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In a joint statement, they said, "Since opening as a nonprofit performing arts venue in 1983, the Florida Theatre has been a wonderful showcase for a diverse array of performers of all races, ethnicities, and artistic genres. As a committee, however, we are focused on making use of the organization's other assets to call more attention to the rich history of Jacksonville, and its richly diverse citizens. Up to 2,000 people might see a Florida Theatre show, but over 5,000 people a day see the Florida Theatre's marquee. Thus the idea for The Marquee Project was born."

Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin says that a new person will be featured every week, and nominations are welcome from the public, although such nominations will be rigorously screened against the criteria established for inclusion. “We get calls all the time asking if we could wish someone a happy birthday, or commemorate a special occasion. This is not that. This is an effort to bring attention to historical Jacksonville natives and residents who made a contribution to our society, and might have been overlooked.” Nominations and suggestions can be forwarded to admin@floridatheatre.com, and past marquees are featured on the Theatre’s website.